Volume 7 Issue 1
October 2002

NEA-Student Program Summer Leadership Conference
By Kimberly Kargus, UW-Green Bay 

During the week of June 24-28, the Student WEA Executive Committee along with Paul Polster and Nicole Blauuw attended the NEA-SP Summer Leadership Conference held in  Dallas, Texas.  We got the chance to meet student leaders from all around the nation and share ideas and accomplishments.  All week long, elections for the new NEA-SP (National Education Association Student Program) Chairperson, as well as board and committee positions were held.  We also attended some professional development sessions, which included a very interesting session about the ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act, a.k.a. the "No Child Left Behind Act").  If you haven’t yet heard about ESEA, take the initiative to learn more about the implications of this federal act.

The annual Outreach to Teach was held at Harlee Elementary School.  Hundreds of student members, NEA members and NEA retired members survived the heat and worked hard to give the school a facelift.  Everyone gave their all and we accomplished more than what we had initially expected. 

That same evening was the national awards banquet.  Student WEA walked away with eight of eleven national awards including Outstanding State Coordinator (Nancy Clark), Outstanding C.L.A.S.S. Project (Outreach to Teach), and Outstanding Newsletter (Student Educator).

Other state leaders were impressed by our student program’s accomplishments and sought out advice.  Wisconsin has a very strong student program and I am very proud to be a part of it.

Mini Resumes: Success Story
By Jane Weidner , Student WEA Alumni

There are many benefits of being a Student WEA member.  One benefit offered for the first time this past year was mini resumes.  Mini resumes provide a way for graduating seniors in the organization to get their names out into the schools and potentially receive calls or letters about submitting an application or interviewing with a district. 

Last fall, I submitted my mini resume.  After that I really didn’t think about it too much more until this past July when I received a call from the Cedar Grove-Belgium School District.  The principal asked if I would be interested in an interview.  I did not recall sending a resume to that school district.  I decided to accept the interview.

When I arrived at the interview, the principal asked me if I knew how they had gotten my name.  I saw the mini resume on the table and figured it out.  The interview went very well, and I was offered the position two days later. 

It was amazing to me how this job sort of fell into my lap.  All I had to do was take five minutes to fill out the mini resume form.  Throughout the past school year, I experienced many of the benefits of Student WEA first hand, but I cannot stress enough how valuable this one particular benefit has proven to be. 

If you are a graduating senior (either December or May 2003) and you didn’t receive a mailing regarding the mini resumes, contact Nancy Clark, Student WEA State Coordinator at 1-800-362-8034 x 274 or email her at clarkn@weac.org.

PI 34—Wisconsin’s new licensing rules—How informed are you?

In the event that you haven’t yet heard about the new and upcoming changes to the way Wisconsin Teachers are licensed, it is time for you to take the initiative to inform yourself so as not to be caught unprepared as you get close to finishing your degree.  Those students graduating in May 2004 will be under the new licensure rules.  Those already licensed or graduating prior to this time will have the flexibility to move between the two different systems.

What are some of the major changes accompany the new licensure rules?

¨    The Praxis II Content Exam must be passed in order to become certified.    

¨    Teacher preparation moves from a course and credit focus to a performance and competency orientation requiring professional portfolios.

¨    License renewal is guided by the ten Wisconsin Teacher Standards.

¨    License categories will be broader:  early childhood, middle childhood, early adolescence, and adolescence

¨    Mentors will be required for all new teachers.

 Why was the new process was created?

¨    Increases teacher professional development opportunities

¨    Manages the teacher certification process that puts teachers in charge of their own skill development

¨    Assists teachers in creating a self-improvement program to benefit both teachers and students.    

 What are some of the details that are being worked out by the DPI?

¨    The logistics and financial impact of the mentoring component

¨    Setting the passing score for the Praxis II Content Exam

 Take control of your future and visit the WEAC website at www.weac.org and download the details!

StWEA UW-Stevens Point Latchkey Program
By Courtney Kommers, UW-Steven Point

The Latchkey Program is an after school program provided free of cost by the UW-Stevens Point Chapter of the Student Wisconsin Education Association (StWEA).  Students who are prospective educators enrolled at UWSP volunteer in cooperation with Jefferson Elementary.  The 20-30 children are in grades K-4 and would normally return home after school to an unsupervised house.  The program operates Monday through Friday from 3:30 pm until 5:15 pm, September 23, 2002 through May 2002.  It is housed in a room provided by the art teacher at Jefferson Elementary.  We, the 30-40 University student teachers, provide a supervised environment for the children after school.  We are future educators and are gaining experience through this volunteer program, while being an asset to our community.  The program is primarily funded by the National Education Association (NEA) C.L.A.S.S. grant.  Additional funding is provided by various Student WEA fundraisers and other grants and donations, which enable us to provide the program to parents free of cost. 

What the children do?

3:30-3:45            Check-in time
3:35-4:00            Supervised outside play
4:00-4:15            Snack time
4:15-5:05            Supervised activities
5:00-5:15            Clean-up and sign out
 

What Difference Will ONE Vote Make? 

One vote…

One vote per precinct would have elected Richard Nixon rather than JFK as president (1960).

One vote made Texas part of the United States (1845).

One vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment (1868).

One vote changed France from a monarchy to a republic (1875).

Did you know?

Only 60% of people in the U.S. are registered to vote.  Only 30% actually vote.

Three main factors determine whether a person is an active voter:

¨         Contact with Candidates, political parties, family or peers that encourage participation;

¨         Understanding the impact that the election will have on daily life;

¨         The availability of information about the candidates, issues, and nuts and bolts on how to vote

Education is now the highest priority for additional federal funding.  It surpasses health care, Social Security and Medicare, tax cuts and paying down the debt.

Exercise your right to vote!

Don’t forget to vote in the November 5th general election.   WEAC’s website (www.weac.org) is loaded with valuable information regarding the election and lists WEAC’s recommended candidates for Governor, lt. Governor, Attorney General and candidates for other key legislative races.